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Thread: e21 wheels upgrade

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
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    DALLAS TX
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    1
    My Cars
    1981 BMW E21

    e21 wheels upgrade

    hello guys . need advice i would like to lower and fit 17 inch rims on my e21 need some feed back please . i don't like 16"s cause of limited tire sizes .

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    4,726
    My Cars
    83 320 82 320
    17in wheels in my opinion are too big, even the 16in wheels on my e21 to me from some angles look too big lol

    What are the specs of the wheel you plan to run ? Width and offset ?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    1,498
    My Cars
    E21 323i, E36 M3
    Have you thought about 15"s? Most of the period tuner e21 came with those as the "big" size and most 17" tires would probably be too big for the e21 anyway.

    Also, what do you mean by upgrade? Better looks? Tire availability? Handling?


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    NC
    Posts
    2,126
    My Cars
    E30M3,318is,318i,E21320
    Quote Originally Posted by mohyasin View Post
    hello guys . need advice i would like to lower and fit 17 inch rims on my e21 need some feed back please . i don't like 16"s cause of limited tire sizes .
    I've a set of rare RA's for sale still. https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...els-(set-of-4)
    88 M3
    91 318is
    91 318i
    83 320is
    08 X3 3.0si

    "If it flys, floats, or f*cks, rent it!"

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2016
    Location
    Norwalk, ca
    Posts
    103
    My Cars
    1982 e21
    In my case I chose to go with a period correct wheel ( 15x6 3pc Epsilon wheel) just did a little extra polishing and used a low profile tire. I think It look's good.

    thumbnail-10.jpegthumbnail-11.jpeg

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    474
    My Cars
    1983 e21, 2018 440i
    15x8et0 and 15x9et5 here.

    I think 9” is a bot too wide for 225 tire. 8.25 or 8.5 would be great.






    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    641
    My Cars
    1982 323i 2003 325it
    Since we're playing the "mine mine mine" game, i'll play too!

    34566269762_c1f48bdf5c_z.jpg

    BBS RZs, 15x7 et.... 21? Don't quote me on that.
    Past, Present, and Future

    1974 BMW 2002tii (RIP)
    1995 BMW 325is w/ FULL S50 swap, track prepped (SOLD)
    1988 BMW 325ix Zinno/Black (RIP)
    1988 BMW 325ix Alpine/Black (Sold)
    1988 BMW 535is Alpine/Pacific Blue (Going Away...)
    1982 BMW 323i (Current Project/Paper Weight)
    2003 BMW 325i Sport Touring (Daily Driver)

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    St. Louis, Missouri
    Posts
    308
    My Cars
    68,74,75,77,80 race cars
    Quote Originally Posted by Resurrectede21 View Post
    In my case I chose to go with a period correct wheel ( 15x6 3pc Epsilon wheel) just did a little extra polishing and used a low profile tire. I think It look's good.

    thumbnail-10.jpegthumbnail-11.jpeg
    Epsilons are my favorite wheels for our cars (IMHO)...that’s why I have six sets

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    St. Louis, Missouri
    Posts
    308
    My Cars
    68,74,75,77,80 race cars
    Not bragging, just have a bad wheel addiction...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    GREECE
    Posts
    135
    My Cars
    1983 E21 315
    I used some Keskins KT4 in 7,5x16 ET20 with 205/45r16 front and 9x16 ET15 with 225/45r16 rear.IMHO the best wheel for this car.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    RI
    Posts
    1,052
    My Cars
    1983 320is S52/2003 VR6T
    17" are going to look strange, I personally think 16" are to big for this car.

    I have two sets of BBS Mahles 15"x7" and 13"x6". The 13" are for sale if interested.
    Last edited by pofo; 12-11-2019 at 11:51 PM.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Mercer Island, WA
    Posts
    2,062
    My Cars
    88 325iC,'11ML350,'84RX7
    Per the picture above, these are 15" staggered authentic Alpina wheels...15x7 front and 15x8 rear. Some like the 13", but I highly recommend these! Slightly heavier steering, but the handling and ride make up for it. If you go with 17", you probably need to stay at stock height vs. lowering springs and roll the fenders. This one is on lowering springs with Bilsteins, and the combo works! It feels like you are part of the car vs. driving a car...it may help that there is an M42 in there as well!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Oct 2015
    Location
    RI
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    My Cars
    1983 320is S52/2003 VR6T
    Alpina wheels do look awesome but do have a hefty price tag now

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Mercer Island, WA
    Posts
    2,062
    My Cars
    88 325iC,'11ML350,'84RX7
    I haven't priced them recently, but are the OZ replicas still available? They may not be staggered, but that actually makes it better because you can rotate tires. Those might be around $150 each? 15x7 all around if I remember correctly. I was fortunate to get authentic ones for that price shipped to me...

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